Wrangel Island fauna plants population. Reserve Wrangel Island: animals and plants

"Wrangel Island"- state nature reserve, occupies the northernmost position (located mainly to the north of 71 ° N. Lat.) of the protected areas of Russia.

State nature reserve"Wrangel Island" was established by the Decree of the Council Ministers of the USSR dated March 23, 1976 No. 189. The total area is 2,225,650 ha, including the area of ​​the water area - 1,430,000 ha. The area of ​​the protected zone is 795,593 ha. It occupies two islands of the Chukchi Sea - Wrangel and Gerald of the Iultinsky District of the Chukotka Autonomous District.

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  The northernmost of the reserves Far East occupies two islands of the Chukchi Sea - Wrangel and Herald, as well as the adjacent water area, and is located on the territory of the Eastern District of the Chukotka District.

  Landscape

  Approximately 2/3 of the territory of. Wrangel is occupied by mountains. Arctic tundra and mountains are the predominant landscape. The hydrographic network of Wrangel Island consists of about 150 relatively small rivers and streams, only 5 of which have a length of over 50 km, and about 900 medium-sized shallow lakes.

  Climate

  The climate in the region of the islands is arctic with a significant influence of cyclonic activity. The frost-free period on the islands usually does not exceed 20-25 days. Winter with constant frost and strong winds, generating a blizzard, dominates most of the year. cool summer for a short time, it is often interrupted by frosts and snowfalls, but, despite this, during the polar day, a stormy life flares up on the islands.

  Flora and fauna

  The flora of Wrangel Island has no analogues in the Arctic in terms of its richness and level of endemism. To date, 417 species and subspecies of vascular plants have been identified in the reserve. This is more than is known for the entire Canadian Arctic Archipelago and 2-2.5 times the number of species in other Arctic tundra areas of similar size. About 3% of the flora of Wrangel Island are subendemic species. Among the vascular plants, 23 taxa are endemic to the island. In terms of the number of endemics, Wrangel Island has no equal among the Arctic islands, including Greenland. A number of endemic plants (Ushakova Oxytropis ushakovii, poppy multibeam papaver multiradiatum and snow-loving poppy papaver chionophilum) are common on the island. Endemics also include a variety of beskilnitsa, a subspecies of the Lapland poppy, poppies Gorodkov and Ushakov, Potentilla Wrangel. The number of known species of mosses (331) and lichens (310) on Wrangel Island also exceeds other areas in the Arctic tundra subzone.

  Sedge-moss tundras predominate, the middle and lower belts of the mountains are occupied by grass-lichen and shrub-forb tundras. There are swamps with the participation of sphagnum, low and willow thickets creeping along the ground. Forest occupies about 15% of the island's area, it is concentrated mainly on south coast. In the upper belts of the mountains there are extensive stony placers.

  natural conditions not conducive to the richness of the fauna.

  There are absolutely no amphibians and reptiles in the reserve; fish (cod, capelin and some others) can only be seen in coastal waters. But on the island there are 169 species of birds, most of which are vagrant, nesting is registered for 62 species, of which 44 species nest regularly on the islands, including 8 species of seabirds. For example: gulls, guillemots, etc. Among birds, we must first of all mention the white goose, which forms its only large autonomous nesting colony of several tens of thousands of pairs that has survived in Russia and Asia. Black geese regularly nest (moreover, thousands of non-breeding geese come here to molt with mainland Chukotka and Alaska), common eider and comb eider, a very small number of Siberian eider, pintails and waders. On the steep sea shores there are bird colonies, numbering in the 60s, according to the well-known explorer of the North S. M. Uspensky, 50-100 thousand thick-billed guillemots, 30-40 thousand kittiwakes, 3 thousand cormorants. V.V. Dezhkin in the book “In the world of protected nature”, published in 1989, writes “Now there are fewer of these birds”, and on the official website of the reserve, the total number of seabird colonies is estimated at 250-300 thousand nesting individuals.

  The basis of the bird population is tundra species, most of which have circumpolar habitats and are common to all arctic tundras. These are Lapland plantain, snow bunting, tules, turnstone, Icelandic sandpiper and a number of other species. At the same time, there are known cases of nesting of species uncharacteristic for the Arctic, such as turukhtan, red-throated sandpiper, ipatka and puffin, talovka warbler, for which Wrangel Island is the most northern point nesting. Ipatka in recent years began to nest on the colonies of seabirds of Wrangel Island regularly and its numbers are growing.

  The world of mammals is poorer, and its most typical representatives are the Siberian lemming and the Vinogradov lemming, which in years of high numbers have very great importance in the ecosystems of the reserve. Arctic fox, ermine, wolverine, feral reindeer, wolves, red foxes wander. But a particularly eminent inhabitant of both islands is a polar bear. The Wrangel and Herald Islands are known as the world's largest concentration of polar bear birth dens. V.V. Dezhkin writes: “In some years, up to 200-250 she-bear dens were arranged in the reserve.” On the website of the reserve there is information that “from 300 to 500 she-bears annually lie in dens on the islands. Approximately 100 ancestral lairs of this number are arranged on a small about. Gerald". In the spring, with slightly stronger offspring, they embark on a journey through the expanses of the Arctic.

  Ungulates are represented in the reserve by two species - reindeer and musk ox. Reindeer were brought to Wrangel Island in the late 1940s and early 1950s: two batches of domesticated reindeer were brought from the coast of Chukotka. Currently, they represent a unique island population of feral reindeer in terms of history and biological characteristics, the number of which in certain periods reached 9-10 thousand individuals. In 1975, a year before the establishment of the reserve, 20 musk oxen were brought to Wrangel Island, caught on american island Nunivak. The period of adaptation of musk oxen on the island and their development of the entire territory passed with difficulties and was extended for several years, after which the survival of the original herd was no longer in doubt and the population began to grow rapidly. At present, the number of musk oxen on the island is about 800-900 individuals, according to the situation in the autumn of 2007 - possibly up to 1000. According to paleontological data, both species of ungulates lived on the territory of Wrangel Island in the late Pleistocene, and reindeer and much later - only 2-3 thousand years ago.

  Finally, walruses, the most interesting and valuable marine animals, haul out on the coasts of the reserve. Their protection and study are the task of local scientists. The Pacific walrus lives here, for which this water area is the most important summer feeding area. In certain years, in the summer-autumn period - from July to the end of September - the beginning of October, most of the females and young of the entire population accumulate near the islands. Walruses stay at the ice edge and prefer to crawl out to rest on ice floes, as long as they are in the water area. When the ice disappears near the most forage shallow areas, walruses approach the islands and form the largest coastal rookeries in the Chukchi Sea on certain spits. At the same time, up to 70-80 thousand animals were recorded at the coastal haulouts of walruses on Wrangel Island, and up to 130 thousand walruses gathered here taking into account the animals swimming in the water. For wintering, walruses migrate to the Bering Sea.

  Throughout the year, ringed seals and bearded seals are common in coastal waters. The ringed seal is the main food for polar bears throughout the year, providing a complete predator life cycle.

  In the summer-autumn period, the water area adjacent to the Wrangel and Herald Islands is an area for feeding and migration of cetaceans. The gray whale is the most numerous here. In recent years, the number of gray whales in the summer-autumn period off the coast of Wrangel Island has increased markedly. Every year, large herds of beluga whales pass along the coast of Wrangel Island on their autumn migration. According to satellite tagging data, it was found that beluga whales approach Wrangel Island in autumn, which gather to give birth in the river delta

  Wrangel Island is the northernmost nature protection complex in Russia. Its name comes from the name of the famous domestic conqueror of the seas Ferdinand Wrangel, although locals the island itself is called Umkilir - "Land of Polar Bears".

  It is also considered one of the most large nature reserves and fits in an area of ​​2.2 million hectares. At the same time, the marine area occupies half of the territory, but only 800 thousand hectares belong to the protected zone. Wrangel Island owns a couple big islands in the Chukchi Sea - Herald and Wrangel. They are located in the east of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. Establishment Decree state reserve was made public in 1976.

  Peculiarities

  

  Initially, the reserve was created to study the ecosystems of the island regions of the Arctic. In addition, this complex was aimed at preserving rare animal and plant species, among which there are many endemics. So, a year before the announcement of this zone as a protected area, a musk ox was acclimatized on it. The modern buffer zone was formalized in 1983, and at sea - in 1999. In 2012, the last change took place, associated with an increase in the coastal protected area.

  

  The main part of the reserve is a mountainous landscape with elements of the arctic tundra. There are over a hundred small rivers and streams on the island, as well as about 1000 small lakes. A windy and frosty climate reigns on the islands, which partially complicates the work of scientists and hinders the tourist opportunities of the reserve.

  

  It is characteristic that the reserve "Wrangel Island" was the first nature protection zone in the USSR, where it was allowed to carry out fishing activities among the indigenous population. Some of the island's lands are of value to archaeologists. Here, not only the remains of ancient mammoths were found, but also the remains of the life of a caveman.

  The limited excursion program on the island is travel on ATVs and all-terrain vehicles. Tourists visit the "Doubtful Bay", Devil's ravine, Mount Percantum.

  The wealth of flora on the island

  

  The flora of the reserve is unique in terms of the number of endemics. In total, about 500 plant species have been registered on these lands, which is many times more than the standard indicators of the Arctic tundra. Among the interesting endemic species, it is worth highlighting several types of poppy, cinquefoil, arthropod, and succulent. Scientists also count 300 species of mosses and lichens in this area. The main part of the mountains is occupied by grass, shrub and lichen cover. You can find swampy areas, and in the southern latitudes of the island - forest plantations. The tops of the mountains are stone mounds.

  Animal world of the reserve

  

  Due to the harsh climatic conditions, the fauna of the nature protection complex is significantly limited. There are no representatives of amphibians and reptiles in the special zone at all. The fish lives only along the coast. The key advantage of the reserve is a large number of birds, not excluding marine and constantly building nests on the island. Of interest to researchers are the white goose, black geese, eiders, waders. sea ​​shores are so different interesting phenomenon, like bird markets, consisting of cormorants, kittiwakes and guillemots.

  

  Speaking of mammals, it should be noted that there are many lemmings, deer, ermines, arctic foxes and wolverines. However, the most famous inhabitant of Wrangel Island is considered to be polar bear. Here the maximum number of his ancestral dens is arranged.

  

  For a long time, scientists have also been monitoring reindeer and musk oxen, which were brought to this territory and acclimatized for a long time.

  The coast of the reserve is a walrus rookery, and in the water area itself you can meet beluga whales and gray whales.

  The largest island is Wrangel Island. It is located at the intersection of the 180 degree meridian, which separates the western and eastern hemispheres. To the east of it, sixty kilometers away, is the island of Herald. The area of ​​Wrangel Island is only eight square kilometers. The Long Strait separates these islands from the mainland; this strait is covered with a thick layer of ice throughout the year. For this reason, the island remained unknown to people for a long time. By the way, in the forties of the 19th century, the island itself was discovered. It happened when famous geographer F. P. Wrangel in the north of the coast of Chukotka watched the flights of bird flocks. Later, he suggested that there is an unknown land between the Chukchi and East Siberian seas. Gradually, Wrangel carefully studied and tested his assumption, then accurately indicated the location on the map major island which was named after him. In 1976, a reserve was founded on the territory of this island. Since 1968, the Soviet people have established the regime of a complex reserve here. This reserve also includes Herald Island. The natural world of Wrangel Island leaves a great impression on eyewitnesses. Where they are, look here.

  Features of Wrangel Island

  Interestingly, the sun does not appear on the island above the horizon from November 18 at all, and the phenomenon continues until January 25. For many, this time is known as the polar night. It is also impossible to say exactly where the sea begins and the land ends. Some things are only visible under the aurora or moonlight. Since moonlight reflects off the ice, the landscape is painted in many shades. However, for many best time on the island is a period northern lights. At this time, everything around changes beyond recognition. Light beams suddenly appearing in the dark sky, illuminated by numerous ice and snow crystals. This leads to the formation of arches, fans and banners. Where to find .

  During the polar day, the reserve takes on a completely different look. At this time, the sun does not go below the horizon from May to July. By the way, this does not make the climate very hot, but it noticeably revives animals and some plants. In other words, they develop more vigorously. A particularly amazing sight is the variety of birds that fly to the island for nesting. Traditionally, during this period, the snow melts and arctic islands more like blooming oases in the ice kingdom. Wrangel Island is different unique nature. Some species of animals and plants can be seen here. Visit . You will not regret.

  Gradually the climate of the island softens. Global warming is also affected by Pacific Ocean. Medium annual temperature is -11 degrees, slightly lower temperature sea ​​water. Wrangel Island is more typical of cloudy windy weather, which is often accompanied by fog. The reserve is rich in a large number of lakes, shallow rivers and streams. Since in winter all water bodies freeze, there are practically no fish here. There are approximately 310 species of plants, among which one can often see lichens and mosses growing on mountain slopes and plains.

  Flora of Wrangel Island

  Most of the island's plants are dwarf. After all, their average height reaches only ten centimeters. True, there is a meter shrub willow - the tallest plant. Since many plants do not have time to go through all the life cycles, they are perennials. In other words, they store immature seeds, flowers, and leaves under the snow. This is an amazing phenomenon: evergreens grow in the Arctic desert. For example, these are crowberries, lingonberries and dryads. The unique plants of Wrangel Island include: Ushakov poppy, Wrangel Potentilla and Lapland poppy. The island has a region with a peculiar tundra and steppe vegetation, this place is called the mammoth prairie.

  Many local animals generally prefer the sea over land. This can be explained by several reasons. After all, there is more food for animals and birds on the shore, and no one touches them here. Note that the protected island is surrounded by a protected zone. Scientists from various fields work in the natural laboratory of the island. They observe unexplored plants and animals. Therefore, one should not be surprised that Wrangel Island has become a complex reserve.

  According to some evidence, musk oxen lived on the territory of the island in the past. Today, twenty heads were brought here from the island of Nunivak, in America. Wrangel Island is also known for the largest walrus rookery in Russia. By the way, Wrangel Island is included in the list of paleontological monuments of the earth.

  The island of polar bears - "Umkilir" - this is how the locals call Wrangel Island. It is located in the Arctic Ocean between the East Siberian and.

  The island got its name in honor of the Russian navigator and statesman Ferdinand Wrangel. At the moment, Wrangel Island is part of the reserve of the same name and is included in the list of objects world heritage UNESCO.

  Story

  Since the middle of the 17th century, Russian explorers have heard from the inhabitants of Chukotka about a certain island in the Arctic Ocean, but it appeared on the maps only 200 years later. In 1911, the island was declared Russian territory, although after that there were several attempts by Britain to annex it to their lands. But a great distance ice hummocks and nature itself protected this region from the encroachment of foreigners on this primordially Russian northern land.

  
  

  In 1976, a reserve was created on Wrangel Island, which includes, in addition to the island itself, the territory of the nearby Herald Island and the adjacent 12-mile sea area. The main objective of this reserve is to preserve and study the fauna of the island part of the Arctic.

  

  The climate of the reserve "Wrangel Island" is quite severe. From February to March, temperatures rarely rise above -30 degrees, and the wind that accompanies snowstorms reaches speeds of 40 meters per hour or more. Even in summer frosts and snowfalls occur here. Ice massifs on the islands are preserved almost all year round.

  

  The relief of Wrangel Island is mountainous, mountains occupy more than half of the island's territory. At the sea they break off with rocks. In places where the coast is more gentle, there are sand and pebble spits. In addition, there are streams on the island - more than one and a half thousand, and about 900 lakes.

  Herald Island is a high remnant, which on all sides breaks into the sea with rocky steep ledges.

  

  Most representatives of the animal and plant world, which are under the protection of the Wrangel Island Reserve, are unique. The reason for this is the exceptional combination of historical and landscape-climatic conditions, as well as the inaccessibility of the island. Even relic species of animals are found here. On the islands, which are part of the ancient land that united the Eurasian and North American continents in ancient times, American and Euro-Asian species of flora and fauna are still preserved. Most of the flora of Wrangel Island belongs to the arctic tundra subzone. In some places of the island there is a real polar desert. In the southwest and in the center of the island, flowering plants grow quite safely. Here you can see real relic steppes.

  

  Amphibians and reptiles are completely absent on the territory of the reserve, but 169 species of various birds nest here, for example, common eider and comb, Icelandic sandpiper, peregrine falcon and gyrfalcon. By the way, the largest white goose colony in Eurasia is located on Wrangel Island.

  

  Siberian and ungulate lemmings, as well as arctic foxes, common to this region, make up the bulk of land mammals. Occasionally, a fox or a wolf appears. Walruses often appear on the island - the largest rookery of these animals is located here. The island serves as a kind of "maternity hospital" for them. There are frequent guests at such rookeries.

  

  A fairly large number of musk oxen live on the island. These huge, thickly furred animals, the local frosts do not care. This is their home and they feel great on the island.

  

  Domestic reindeer were brought here on purpose. They took root perfectly, eventually became somewhat wild and now form part of the fauna of the island.

  

  Gray whales, fin whales, and beluga whales are not uncommon in the local waters. Sometimes they swim from whales.

  

  The island is also of geological value - parking lots were found here ancient man, as well as traces of a small mammoth population that survived its mainland relatives by almost 6 thousand years. By the way, mammoths lived on Wrangel Island relatively recently - only 3.6 thousand years ago.

  

  

  Tourism on the island began to develop only in recent years. This is greatly hindered by its removal. But there, no less, it has already become a tradition that several tourist groups every year they come to the cordon called "Doubtful Bay". Most of the travel around the island is carried out on all-terrain vehicles.

  

  Some prefer to move around on ATVs or walk on foot. Here you can visit Mount Perkantun, located in the central part of the island, as well as the Paleo-Eskimo camp on the Devil's Gully. Many excursions include the landing site of Canadian settlers at the mouth of the Predators River, and the Davydov, Traitor and Popova lagoons, on which the hunting lodge is located. In cases where there is not so much ice on the sea, water routes along the Doubtful Bay and Krasina Bay.

  

  

  The most interesting activity while traveling around the island is to contemplate the pure northern nature to observe polar wolves, polar bears, arctic foxes, sea birds in their natural environment.

  

  

  

  

  

  Having visited Wrangel Island, you have a great opportunity to capture memorable moments and replenish your photo collection. Every day and hour spent on this wonderful island will be remembered for a lifetime. This remote from civilization northern edge of real, untouched nature, despite the difficulties overcome, will always beckon you to itself.

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  Reserve "Wrangel Island"

  The first conservation measures Wrangel Island belong to 1937. It was then that A. I. Mineev, the second head of the settlement, adopted a decree by which he introduced a ban on fishing for arctic fox in the northern region of Wrangel Island. This part of the island has become a reproductive reserve.

  In 1968, a reserve was organized on Wrangel Island, the main purpose of which was the protection of polar bears, walruses, black goose and white goose. In 1975, musk oxen were brought into the protected area from Nunivak Island.

  On March 23, 1976, the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR signed Decree No. 189 on the organization of the state in order to preserve rare natural complexes. Later, the Chukchi authorities signed a decree concerning the organization of a 5 km wide buffer zone around the islands.

  "Wrangel Island" counts the first Arctic reserve in Russia, and in 2004 the reserve was included in World Heritage List.
  The main purpose of founding the reserve is to explore and preserve unique ecosystems, as well as the islands of the Arctic. An equally important task of the protected island is save rare animal species, which include polar bears, walruses, the white goose population and others.

  General information, climate and relief of the Wrangel Island Reserve

  Map of the reserve "Wrangel Island"

  As part of Reserve "Wrangel Islands", the northernmost among the Far Eastern reserves, there are two islands - Wrangel and Herald(both belong to the islands of the Chukchi Sea) - and the adjacent water area. The reserve is located on the territory of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, in the Eastern region.
  The total area is 2,225,650 ha, of which 1,430,000 ha is water area. The territory of the protected zone is 795,593 hectares.

  About two thirds of the territory of the reserve is occupied by mountains, the highest height of which is 1095.4 meters. In places with gently sloping shores, there are many sand and pebble spits. Since the reserve is located on the border Chukotka and East Siberian Seas , ice massifs are visible in the protected area almost all year round. On the Wrangel Island there are about 900 lakes and more than one and a half thousand streams.

  On the Herald Island dominated by arctic deserts. However, there are also tundras: arctic gravel-clay and arctic polygonal.

  Spring in the reserve "Wrangel Island"

  In the region of the islands, an arctic climate dominates with a significant influence of the activity of cyclones. The period without frost on the islands, as a rule, lasts no longer than twenty-five days. In winter, there are winds, the speed of which reaches more than 40 meters per second. The coldest month is February average temperature equal to -25°C. The warmest month should be considered July with an average daily temperature of +2.5ºС.

  A unique discovery was made in the mid-90s of the last century, when Russian paleontologists found Wrangel Island the remains of woolly mammoths who lived 3.5-7 thousand years ago at the same time as the creation of the Pyramids!

  Reserve "Wrangel Island" and its flora

  Reserve "Wrangel Island" differs unusually diverse species of flora and fauna for the Arctic. The number of species of plants, birds, insects, the diversity of plant communities allows us to call the reserve unique. In this regard, Wrangel Island is superior to other Arctic islands.

  By the level of species diversity and endemism flora Reserve "Wrangel Island" has no analogues in the Arctic. 417 species and subspecies of vascular plants have been found in the reserve. This is two to two and a half times the number of species in other Arctic tundra areas of similar size. Wrangel Island surpassed the rest of the territories in the subzone Antarctic tundra and by the type of known mosses and lichens: there are 331 of the first, 310 of the second.

  

  Reserve "Wrangel Island" and its wildlife

  On the Wrangel and Herald Islands, they lie in dens about 250 polar bears in order to produce offspring in the spring. That's why Wrangel Island often referred to as the "maternity hospital of polar bears."

  On the territory of the reserve there is the only large permanent white goose colony in Asia (up to 40 thousand nests), as well as the largest Chukchi Sea colonies of kittiwake, polar guillemot, thick-billed murre. Wrangel Island inhabited by reindeer. In the 1940s, its domestic variety was brought to the territory of the reserve.